First Sunday of Lent

Jan 14 2025

Scripture Study for

The reading from Genesis is the first account of sin. The sin itself was disobedience, but the inclination that gave rise to it was a form of hubris—the desire to be like gods. The cunning serpent should not be confused with the devil who appears much later in the biblical tradition. This mysterious creature has been used by the writer to point out how vulnerable to temptation humans are. The tree of knowledge plays no role except that it was very enticing, yet forbidden. The subtlety of temptation is obvious. It is admirable to want to be like God, but it is hubris to take things into one’s own hands and make decisions contrary to God’s will.

Paul speaks of the incomparable nature of God’s salvific grace. He compares the universal effects of sin and death with the all-encompassing power of forgiveness and life. He then contrasts Adam, “the type of the one who was to come,” to Christ, his unrivaled counterpart (Romans 5:14). Sin entered the world through Adam. The evidence of this is the universal reign of death. All die, therefore all must have sinned. As universal death entered the world through the sin of one— Adam—so grace was won for all through the gift of one—Christ. However, grace is much more powerful than sin.

The place of Jesus’ testing is the desert, traditionally believed to be the abode of evil spirits. Reminiscent of Israel’s forty years in the wilderness, Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights. The devil challenges Jesus’ identity as Son of God, urging him to turn stones into bread. The devil then proposes that Jesus test God’s promise of protection by throwing himself from the pinnacle of the temple. Finally, the devil offers Jesus dominion over the world. Jesus’ responses outline a very different approach. He will allow the word of God to direct his actions, he will rely on God’s providence, and he will remain faithful to God. Jesus is steadfast in the face of temptation.

Jan 08 2025

Called to Be True

In the fourth century A.D., Christianity became legal and then mandatory. To “follow Jesus” grew to be a soft way of life. Anybody and everybody could (and then should) be a Christian. Within one lifetime, the faith that had required its followers to be willing to be torn apart by lions now became “good for business.” What happened as a result? Men and women, turned off to a tamed Christianity, flocked to the Egyptian desert. In the desert, they shed the “fat” of mainstream acceptance. They strove to be pure and obedient and true in their faith. Desert monasticism flourished.

Jesus also was led into the desert. The Judean desert is stark. No trees offer shade. The sun beats down mercilessly. Ninety-five degrees is a cool day in May. For forty days, Jesus’ hunger intensified. If he had any fat on his body, it shriveled up. Three times he was tempted to take the easier path. Three times he stayed true to his mission and to his God: I will love the Lord alone!

Adam and Eve didn’t think that they needed to do what God told them. When found out, they tried to evade the One who sought them in love, like a guilty toddler hiding behind the couch crying out, “Don’t look at me!” They squirmed away from right and wrong.

As you and I move into this season of Lent, what does it mean for us to be true to God? The world around us may tempt us to be soft: lies and posturing and deceit proliferate in our culture and even in our Church. Lent is the season to grow more holy, our time to go to the desert. This is our ascetic season. This is our opportunity to strip away the fat that weighs down our spiritual and moral life.

Consider/Discuss

King David is called to truth by the prophet Nathan (2 Samuel 11—13). He cries out, “O God, create a pure heart in me. Give me a new and steadfast spirit!” What does it mean to you to be true? What tempts you to take a “softer” path?
As we come before God in prayer, is there some part within us that wants to hide behind the couch and not be seen?

Living and Praying with the Word

Lord, sometimes we squirm away from obedience. You call us to look you straight in the eye and remain steadfast in following you, no matter the cost. But sometimes it is more comfortable to go the softer way. When we are tempted to disregard what our conscience tells us is right, fill us with the strength to stand fast. As we enter into this Lenten season, strip away the fat that encases our spiritual and moral life. Give us the grace to follow you more purely.

Jan 08 2025

Scripture Study for

The Genesis reading relates how an original intimacy between humans and God was damaged by distrust. The serpent’s question to the woman implies that God has placed an unreasonable limitation on the couple. Although Eve does not take the bait, she does note that God said they would die if they ate from the tree. Knowing that they will not physically die, the serpent tells a half-truth, suggesting that God does not have their best interest at heart. But once the couple has eaten of the tree, they do experience death in the form of estrangement from God, the source of life. Exile from the Garden, where God and the tree of life reside, symbolizes this rupture of the divine-human relationship, the devastating consequences of sin.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul articulates the problem to which Christ is the solution—human captivity to sin. He develops this theme by drawing a contrast between the actions of Adam and their consequences and those of Christ. Adam’s disobedience brought judgment and death, not only for himself but for all his descendants, such that “death reigned” in the world. Christ’s obedience reversed all of this: sinners are made righteous, the condemned are “acquitted,” and the reign of death comes to an end. Through the “abundance of grace,” a sheer gift of God, the acquitted now “reign in life” through Christ.

In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus, who represents all of Israel (2:15), recapitulates and perfects Israel’s history with God. Now Jesus is led into the wilderness and tested, as Israel was after the Exodus. Whereas in the desert Israel lacked trust and was unfaithful to God, Jesus resists the temptation to use his powers for his own needs, to put God to the test, or to worship anyone other than God. The rest of the Gospel will show Jesus, as Son of God, serving others rather than himself and, even to the Cross, trusting and remaining faithful to the Father.

Dec 13 2024

Pledging Allegiance

Lent’s journey will take us to the celebration of the paschal mystery of Easter. During these forty days we are invited into a space of sensory deprivation when we gather for worship: no flowers on the altar, no music for its own sake but only to accompany our singing, and no colorful banners that might distract us from the task at hand: to prepare our minds and hearts to renew our baptismal promises during the celebration.

We will be asked both to renounce Satan and all his perks and promises and to place our wholehearted trust in God who created us, in the Son who redeemed us, and in the Spirit who dwells within us and enlightens us. Lent is a serious season but not necessarily a somber one; it is the waiting room for Easter joy. One Lenten Preface (the priest’s prayer before the Holy, Holy, Holy) even speaks of it as a season that is a gracious gift from God, making us joyful because we are purified to celebrate the Easter mysteries.

Just as Jesus was tempted throughout his ministry to turn aside from his mission, his followers will be, too. The three temptations speak to our own experience when we seek self-gratification rather than the glory of God.

God’s word today calls us to make God our true nourishment, our true wealth, our faithful source of strength, and the solid foundation of our trust. Paul’s bold proclamation to the Romans extends to us: the Lord enriches all who call upon him. All who call on him will be saved.

Consider/Discuss

Where do you want to find yourself at the end of this Lenten journey?
What temptation lures you to turn aside from having God and Christ at the center of your life?

Responding to the Word

Lord Jesus, as you had the help of the Spirit to turn aside from the temptations that came to you during the time in the desert and the years of your ministry, help us to turn to this same Spirit to help us in our efforts to grow in faith, hope, and charity this Lent.

Dec 13 2024

Scripture Study for

The reading from Deuteronomy contains one of the most important creedal statements found in the Pentateuch. This profession of faith was part of the Israelite celebration of First Fruits. The cultic ritual described here consisted of both action (the offering of the basket containing the produce) and the recitation of the saving acts of God on behalf of the people. This passage describes Moses instructing the Israelites for future observances of this festival. Since these directives come from Moses, the spokesperson of God, they have Mosaic and therefore divine legitimacy.

The essence of Paul’s preaching is twofold: the centrality of Christ in the drama of salvation, and the need to accept the gospel in order to open oneself to Christ’s saving power. To call Jesus Lord had ramifications in both Jewish and Greek circles. In the Jewish tradition, it identified Jesus with the one true God. In a Greek culture, it claimed that Jesus—and no other political lord or master—was the one to whom whole-hearted allegiance belonged. Finally, it is faith in Jesus, not membership in the chosen people of Israel, that justifies and saves.

The account of Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness states that Jesus was under the influence of the Holy Spirit. In each temptation Jesus is challenged to prove that he is the Son of God. The temptation to produce bread recalls Israel’s hunger in the wilderness and God’s graciousness in supplying the people with manna. In the second temptation, Jesus rejects the devil’s offer to turn over control of the world to him. The last test was an attempt to force God to protect Jesus. In each instance Jesus rejects the temptation and refers to a passage from Deuteronomy. Three times the devil tempts Jesus; three times Jesus proves his allegiance to God. He never directly addresses the question of his divine sonship, but he always shows himself to be faithful, whereas Israel was not.